Happy Sunday, everyone! Things have been very busy both on and offline this month, so I thought it would be the perfect time to do another coffee catch up. If you are new to this series, a coffee catch up is like a conversation between friends who haven’t seen each other for a while. I will share life updates, big events and what’s in store for the future.
November has been a busy month, and I haven’t been as active on the blog. However, I have been very active on social media to build the social end of the platform; if you aren’t following me on those accounts, make sure to follow my Instagram and Twitter for quick updates, daily sustainability tips and more!
So, what’s new? November has been the month of constant movement and growth, both professionally and personally.
Things I’m loving lately
Some things just feel best at different phases in life. I tend to go all-in for certain things depending on the season, activities I’m working on and people I am surrounded by. Here are just a few things I am loving lately that you may want to check out yourself:
Podcasts
I’ve listened to podcasts for years, but since starting this co-op I have branched out to try new genres. While working in the office I go through several in one day, so having variety is important (also because I will run out of episodes to listen to if I just listen to one podcast). Podcasts I’m really loving right now include Canadian True Crime, The Moth and A Sustainable Mind. Each are totally different and addictive. I strongly recommend giving these a try if you haven’t already.
Soups
I suppose this isn’t something I’m loving “lately” because I always love soup. However, I recently overcame a really bad flu/cold/something not fun that stuck around for over two weeks. At that time I felt super lethargic and didn’t want to cook, so making my own soup in a crock pot or heating up frozen soup I made before and froze was key for getting through this period. Lentil and squash soups are my favourites at the moment, both of which are perfect fall/winter dishes.
Regular calls with friends
Life is busy, and in the past I didn’t make nearly as much of an effort as I would have liked to chat with friends regularly. It’s hard while on co-op to stay connected with others that are working elsewhere, and the variability in schedules with friends living locally but on a school term also makes it a challenge. This term I aim to chat with at least one friend each week (usually ends up being multiple, which I love). Some friends I won’t see until May because of our co-op schedules, so connecting regularly is so important to stay updated on each other’s lives!
Spicy teas
I used to DESPISE any tea with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and the like, such as chai teas. Those spices are some of my favourites to eat, but for some reason every time I tried drinking something spicy I’d feel like I would vomit. Thankfully this many-year phase has passed and now I love these teas. They are so comforting, especially on a sick/cold day. My favourite right now is a decaf cinnamon spice tea with orange notes. It’s super comforting and refreshing. Also loving chai tea lattes!
Events
Pitch it Green Conference
Last weekend I was a panelist and judge at the Green Business Conference in Toronto, hosted by Pitch it Green. The conference brought together passionate high school students interested in sustainable business and entrepreneurship. There were keynote speakers, the panel of sustainability experts, and a Dragon’s Den-style project pitch. The attendants chose an area of sustainability to focus their project on (fast fashion, food systems, climate change, etc.) and developed a short project proposal including budget, stakeholders and constraints, then presented them at the end of the day. The winning teams won a prize.
Overall the experience was fantastic. This was my second time being on a panel and I am always impressed by the voice that other panelists bring. As the youngest panelist on both accounts, I love connecting with the others to see how they got to their current place and what I can do to steer my future in a similar direction.
Latornell Conservation Symposium
A few days later I was off to Alliston for a work conference. The Latornell Conservation Symposium was an event I will never forget because it was my first experience at a large-scale sustainability conference. The demographics here were very different; most of the attendants were professionals coming to represent their organization, with years of experience in the field. I am so thankful to have attended this exclusive conference while on co-op, something I could not have done without my awesome employer.
The days were filled with workshops and seminars on various topics focused on restoration and conservation. I attended seminars on fish policy, several on soil management and biogeochemical nutrient balancing and urban restoration practices taking place in Ontario. I connected well with the lunchtime keynote speaker, Dave Meslin, who discussed how language shapes our actions. His message aligned well with Clear the Air, in that information needed to take action in the community is hidden or inaccessible due to complicated language used by those trying to hide this knowledge. Meslin was speaking in the political context, which Clear the Air also highlights, along with inaccessibility to climate change information.
In the evening there was a gala dinner, various choose-your-own-adventure events like a mini golf tournament (our team won “most honest” i.e. last place…but at least we each got a bottle of locally made maple syrup!) and a student poster presentation that attendants voted on. I would love to present a poster there someday, likely when I write my thesis in two years.
The event was very accommodating for dietary restrictions, always having vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and other items available. They prioritized locally made, well-sourced ingredients. Free, quality food? Yes please!
I would love to attend Latornell again. I don’t know if it will be possible next year since I will be on a school term, but you never know! There are always other years, anyway.
Grant proposals…lots of grant proposals
Not a particular event, but I have done many multiple funding pitches this month. This is also one of the reasons November hasn’t been as active on the blog as the past. Pitches take a lot of time, planning and effort. I am happy to say I have been successful with some of these pitches, receiving funding to support the growth of Clear the Air. There are still more pitches to come, and some that I am still waiting on results from. Fingers crossed!
Changes on the blog
Clear the Air
The platform has transformed this month. From Jenna’s Journey to Clear the Air, I seek to inspire, educate and empower youth to take action against climate change, one day at a time.
To read more about the story behind this, check out this post I wrote a few weeks ago. I am still working on branding and marketing for these changes, so stay tuned for more changes in the future.
The podcast
The blog is growing to include a podcast to make information about climate change even more accessible to you. The technicalities behind this are still in the process, but the first episode will be released in the next few weeks. I listen to many podcasts and love learning through this medium because you can listen to them practically anywhere. I also love talking and sharing knowledge, so what better way to do this than a podcast?
What’s next
Aside from the previously mentioned activities, there are other things going on that I am excited for.
Tattoo #3
This tattoo will honour Max, whom if you recall passed away at the start of September. He was in my life since I was four years old and was my best friend. I miss him every day and wanted to commemorate him in some way. When he passed my family got a print of his paw, which I will be using for the tattoo.
Holiday festivities
I love the holiday season because of the cheery vibe in the community. The decorations, the music, the food…people seem to be in a better mood around this time, and despite the cold weather everything feels warm. I am looking forward to the Christmas parties, get-togethers with friends I haven’t seen since summer, and time to just relax (or relax as much as I am capable of.
Back to school (in January)
It’s crazy how quickly this co-op term has flown by. One minute it was September, the next and I have less than 20 work days left (excluding weekends)! I guess that speaks to how much I’ve enjoyed this term, both while working and with the activities I’ve been doing outside of work.
That said, I love school. I love learning, being in class; as stressful as it is, I love studying, writing papers and researching. I also love the campus community, being involved in events, volunteering and seeing friends. Some of my good friends are graduating after the Winter term, so I am really looking forward to that time we will have together.
I think that is all the catching up I have for now. Stay tuned for more changes on the blog, and remember to follow my social media pages for daily content.
Until next time!